The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-09
THE KlSSAyE SENSATION
A BOSTON ATTORNEY CONTRIB-
UFRs ANOTHER CHAPTER
or Great Interest TO the Biography
OF the Wonderful Grin iHal
and His Gang.

correspondent OF the New York Herald
says; A highly important vein in the
history OF the singular case Of William
kissane was struck this evening and
was followed to the end. Mr.. L. s.
Fairbanks was found at his office, No.
II School street, sad he communicated
the fsct to the special correspondent
OF the Herald that he was one of Kis-
sanee legal counsel In the now famous
trial OF thirty-three years ago. He
was also the attorney OF Kisssne and
Others in the trial of the charges
brought by Sidney o. Burton, referred
to In the Herald OF April 4,h.
MIR. Fairbanks is a respectable at
torney who came to Boston in 1874.
de discussed the case with evident in
terest, although in an entirely dispas-
siona,e manner. He said: II have
not read the various articles on Kis-
sane which have appeared in he New
YORK newspapers for the reason that
dc not see them. ! have noticed
references to the case in the local pa
pers. My connection with Kisssne
recalls many curious and interesting
"reminiscences. / first met him az
counsel in the Martha Washington
conspiracy case. The Herald's special
from Cincinnati did not begin to cover
the intIicaces Of his singular lega
contest.
TWO ACQUITTALs.
Toe trial for alleged conspiracy in
burning the Martha Washington in
order 10 o0tain the insurance money
took place at Columbus, o. 1t occu-
pied four weeks and cost the State of
Ohio $4,000. The prisoners were
acquitted. Kisssne, Leymsu Cole and
tindley, the three persons implicated
in the Chemical Bank forgery, now
famous, were among the twelve de-
PENDANTS. l do not wish to mention
the names OF the others for they were,
aud have been since, respected mem.
bers OF society. The sister OF one re.
sides not thirty miles from Boston.
She belongs to one Of the oldest and
best Massachusetts, families.
"Soon after the acquittal at Colum
bus the DE- fendants were indicted az
Helena, Ark for arson and murder.
When the Martha Washington was
burned in the Mississippi river off
that town, number OF persons lost
their lives. Kissane, Coe, Findley
and the others wers taken TO Helsna
on rtquisition and tried. An aCquittal
promptly followed, for there WAS not
shadow OF evidence to connect them
with the logs of the boat. There APP
peared TO be an active enemy in the
rear pursuing them.
BURroN's ANIEosITY.
"The next attempt was made in New
York, where the charge ives attempt.
ing to procure money from the iusur-
ance companies under false pretenses.
was employed to defend eleven oil
the accused. Richard Bnsteed de-
Tended the twelfth, My cffics was in
Broadway, near Duane street. The
charge was that the Martha Washing
ton was loaded with bogus cargo fol
New York. She was to deliver the
70 DDS at New Orleans and they were
to be shipped thence. The Sidney G
Burton referred TO in the Herald ap
pea'ed as an important witness. KS
sane always said that Burton was a
the bottom OF the persecution of him
self aud the Others. Certainly hi
conduct in New York would lead any
one 10 suppose that he had persona
interest in Furnishing the accused.
IN FEAR OF HIS LIFE.
Burton acted like q lunatic. H.
VaJR terrible coward, and constantly
proclaimed that his life was in danger
He did not dare have his window cur.
tain liitt d at his hotel, for fear tina
Kisssne's and Oole's friends wou' c
shoot at him. l questioned my client
closely on this point, aud they assured
me that no one would disturb Buriou
They had no reason to love him. bu
there WAS no truth in Burlon's stofie
that they intended him bodily injury
l. looked as II no had stared th5 re
port TO gain mrathy. II was charged
that the barrels of pork and the boxe
of hams comprising much OF to,
Martha Washingon's argo we're file,
with refuse. Barton aimed tina. h.
overlooked some OF the party films
boxes with sawdust in a cellar. Whe
the case ca ne up for tria | filed mo
ton to quash the indictments on tn
ground of error. Some OF the accu e.
had difficulty in procuring bail. Ley
man Cole had to 90 to the Tombs an
got free only through brother in tn
Esst dep Jsiting $4,000 with the Git
Chamberlain. Cole was violent
ht adstroug man, very sharp and cur
Mug. 0ne oil the principal witnesse
in the case died, and after time tn
District Attorney agreed to drop tn
matter.
WHY THE FORGERY WAS ATTEMPTED.
"This was the end of the Marth
Washington conspiracy affair. Il Wa
pregnant with BEARING on the subs,
quent Chemical Bank forgery. Tn
terrible legal struggle through whic
Kisssne, Cole and Findley had gor
: in Ohio and Arkansas had exhRuste
their means, II was in order to raj
, money that the bank forgery WI
planned by Cole. He was the braiG
Of the trio. Findley was merely
tool--a rather weak minded, easil
led person. Kissane was entirely di
ferent. l shall never forget the fir
, impression l recsived Of him. Slende
straight, with blonde hair and tho
oughly pleasing manner, he was
fm and plausible a person as OF
often meets with. Cole probably pr
ptred the forged DRIFTS. The thr,
were in a room in New York togethC
, when the thing was done, 80 Flndley
who turned States evidence, te
tifsd. Findley, under the nan
of James Bishop, an allege
2 drover, deposited $1,000 in Il
. Chemical Bank. Next cay two drai
: - one on the Continental Bank, Il
| ohsr on the Exchange Bank-we
, deposited. Tho total amount "
J somewhere near $4,000. Then Fin
l ley went 10 the bank and stated tn
: he must have sum Of money to bI
cattle, aud on his own check drew o.
about $4,000. His check was,
course, genuine. 1t was the drai
!, that were forged.
o KIssANK's WONDERFUL ESCAPE,
Il "The money procured the trio sta
/ ed for Ohio as quickly as possib
y Findley and Cole were arrested
i Cincinnati. Kissane was captur,
It about the came time. In charge of